Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC130 B4 Helicopters, 28458-28459 [E7-9695]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 97 (Monday, May 21, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28458-28459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9695]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28228; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-08-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC130 B4 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This amendment proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for Eurocopter France (ECF) Model EC130 B4 helicopters. This 
proposal would require, within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS), 
modifying and testing the wiring of the battery overheat sensing 
circuit. This proposal is prompted by a malfunction in the battery 
overheat sensing circuit found during a scheduled inspection. The 
actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to correct the 
connection of the thermal switch to the cockpit indicator light, to 
notify the flight crew of an overheated battery, and to prevent a 
thermal runaway of the battery, an in-flight fire, and subsequent loss 
of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 20, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to https://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically;
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to https://
www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically;
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590;
     Fax: 202-493-2251; or
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, 
Texas 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-3527.
    You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at https://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Middleton, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5197, fax (817) 222-
5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments 
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed 
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2007-
28228, Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-08-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to https://
dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the search 
function of our docket Web site, you can find and read the comments to 
any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent or 
signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477-78), or you may visit https://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Management 
System (DMS) Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5227) is located at the plaza level of the Department of 
Transportation Nassif Building in Room PL-401 at 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    The Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), the 
airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on ECF Model EC130 B4 helicopters. The DGAC advises 
that a malfunction of the battery overheat sensing function, due to 
incorrect wiring of the battery overheat sensing circuit, was found 
during a scheduled maintenance. The DGAC also advises that failure of 
the battery overheat sensing function to operate could give rise to a 
fire in the event of thermal runaway of the battery.
    ECF has issued Alert Telex No. 24A001, dated December 20, 2005 
(AT). The AT specifies modifying and testing the battery overheat 
sensing circuit (MOD 073572) for batteries located in the right-hand 
side baggage compartment (not modified per OP-3685 or 073739) and for 
batteries in the tailboom (modified per OP-3685 or 073739). The DGAC 
classified this AT as mandatory and issued AD No. F-2006-010, dated 
January 4, 2006, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
helicopters in France.
    This helicopter model is manufactured in France and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
14 CFR 21.29 and the applicable bilateral agreement. Pursuant to the 
applicable bilateral agreement, the DGAC has kept us informed of the 
situation described above. We have examined the findings of the DGAC, 
reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action is 
necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    This previously described unsafe condition is likely to exist or 
develop on other helicopters of the same type design registered in the 
United States. Therefore, the proposed AD would require, within 100 
hours TIS, modifying and testing the wiring of the battery overheat 
sensing circuit. The actions of this AD would be required to be 
accomplished by following the specified portions of the alert telex 
described previously.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 68 helicopters of 
U.S. registry. Modifying and testing the overheat sensing circuit 
wiring would take about 1 work hour per helicopter at an average labor 
rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the 
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $5440.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism

[[Page 28459]]

implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, this proposed 
AD would not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the 
relationship between the national Government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the DMS to examine the draft economic 
evaluation.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA-2007-28228; Directorate Identifier 
2006-SW-08-AD.

    Applicability: Model EC130 B4 helicopters not modified per MOD 
073572, with the battery in either the right-hand baggage 
compartment or the tailboom, certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required within 110 hours time-in-service, unless 
accomplished previously.
    To correct the connection of the thermal switch to the cockpit 
indicator light, to notify the flight crew of an overheated battery, 
and to prevent a thermal runaway of the battery, an in-flight fire, 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, do the following:
    (a) Modify the wiring of the battery overheat sensing circuit 
and test the battery overheat sensing indicator light by following 
the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B.1. or 2.B.2., 
depending on the location of the battery, of Eurocopter Alert Telex 
No. 24A001, dated December 20, 2005.
    (b) Modifying and testing the battery overheat sensing circuit 
by following paragraph (a) of this AD is terminating action for the 
requirements of this AD.
    (c) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Contact the Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, ATTN: Gary 
Middleton, Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5197, fax (817) 
222-5961, for information about previously approved alternative 
methods of compliance.

    Note: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction Generale 
De L'Aviation Civile (France) AD No. F-2006-010, dated January 4, 
2006.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 1, 2007.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-9695 Filed 5-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P